The Ministry (Work) of the Apostle.

Opening Greetings

Galatians 1:3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus the Savior, 4 who gave himself for our sins, so that he might deliver us from the present evil world-system, in obedience to the will of God, our Father. 5 To him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

Opening Reading

Ephesians 4:7 Each one of us, however, has been given grace to be measured by the Messiah’s bounty. 8 This is why it says,

“After he went up into the heights,
he led captivity captive
and he gave gifts to mankind.”[a]

9 Now this phrase, “he went up,” what can it mean if not that he first went down into the lower parts, that is, the earth? 10 The one who went down is himself the one who also went up, far above all of heaven, in order to fill all things. 11 Furthermore, he gave some people as emissaries (apostles), some as prophets, some as proclaimers of the Good News (evangelists), and some as shepherds and teachers (pastors). 12 Their task is to equip God’s people for the work of service that builds the body of the Messiah (the Church), 13 until we all arrive at the unity implied by trusting and knowing the Son of God, at full manhood, at the standard of maturity set by the Messiah’s perfection.

Message

In this particular communication, I want to attempt an explanation of one of the ministries in the church, namely, the ministry of the apostle. I believe it is important to know and understand the ministries and offices as well as spiritual gifts in the church as set forth in scriptures, what they do and how to tell whether a person has the gift(s) or not. 

How does one become an Apostle?

The office of the apostle is a calling: He gave some people as emissaries or apostles (Ephesians 4:11). Again: Hebrews 5:4 And no one takes this honor upon himself, rather, he is called by God. Clearly, this is a gift and, directly, from Jesus himself.  

A look at the calling of the first apostles

Mark 3:13 Then he went up into the hill country and summoned to himself those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve to be with him, to be sent out to preach 15 and to have authority to expel demons:

16 Simon, to whom he gave another name, “Peter”;

17 James the son of Zebedee and John, James' brother — to them he gave the name “Thunderers;

18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Mathew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus, Simon the Canaanite ,

19 and Judas from Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.

Marks of the apostle from the above passage-

 1. Jesus personally invited them to himself (Mark 3:7 indicates they were already his disciples) to himself;

2. Jesus personally chose them;

3. Jesus gave them the special designation of apostles.

4. Jesus sent them out "to preach and to have authority to expel demons."

5.  I want to make an important remark here, and that is, the apostles had seen Jesus. He is an eyewitness of Jesus Christ. Please keep this in mind as we continue. 

Another scripture to clarify who an apostle is:

Mathew 28:16 So the eleven disciples went to the hill in Galilee where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they prostrated themselves before him; but some hesitated. 18 Jesus came and talked with them. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore, go and make people from all nations into disciples, immersing (baptizing) them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember! I will be with you always, yes, even until the end of the age.”

*This Mathew 28:19 scripture gives the clearest description of what the ministry of the apostle is:  "Therefore, go and make people from all nations into disciples, immersing (baptizing) them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.

Marks of the apostle from the above passage-

1. The apostle is called and sent to "make people from all nations disciples" of The Lord Jesus Christ."

2. In that role, he will baptize people into Christ.

3.  He will teach them obedience to the teachings of Jesus.

Since Jesus is no longer here in person like he was with the first apostles, do we still have apostles? Must people still see Jesus to become apostles?

The following scriptures will answer:

Acts 9:3 He (Saul) was on the road and nearing Damascus, when suddenly a light from heaven flashed all around him. 4 Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why do you keep persecuting me?” 5 “Sir, who are you?” he asked. “I am Jesus, and you are persecuting me. 6 But get up, and go into the city, and you will be told what you have to do.”

Acts 9:10 There was a disciple in Damascus, Ananias by name; and in a vision the Lord said to him, “Ananias!” He said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to Straight Street, to Judah’s house; and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul; for he is praying, 12 and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, many have told me about this man, how much harm he has done to your people in Jerusalem; 14 and here he has a warrant from the Chief Priest to arrest everyone who calls on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name to the Gentile, even to their kings, and to the sons of Israel as well. 16 For I myself will show him how much he will have to suffer on account of my name.”

17 So Ananias left and went into the house. Placing his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord — Jesus, the one who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here — has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Ghost.” 18 In that moment, something like scales fell away from Saul’s eyes; and he could see again. He got up and was immersed; 19 then he ate some food and regained his strength.

Saul spent some days with the disciples in Damascus, 20 and immediately he began proclaiming in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Isn’t he the man who in Jerusalem was trying to destroy the people who call on this name? In fact, isn’t that why he came here, to arrest them and bring them back to the Chief Priest?” 22 But Saul was being filled with more and more power and was creating an uproar among the Jews living in Damascus with his proofs that Jesus is the Messiah.

Romans 1:1 From: Saul, a slave of the Messiah Jesus, an apostle because I was called and set apart for the Good News of God.

Marks of the apostle from the above passage-

1. Paul saw Jesus in a vision (you can also say dream or trance).
2. Jesus commissioned, and sent, him to preach.
3. People must still see Jesus to become apostles.

Additional marks of the apostle.....

1. He lays the foundation of the church- "I also tell you this: you are Peter,” [which means ‘Rock,’] “and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Sheol will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” Matthew 16:18-19 and 1 Corinthians 3:9 We are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. 10 Using the grace God gave me (apostle Paul), I laid a foundation, like a skilled master-builder. Put another way, they found/plant Churches and transmit the correct teachings and practices of Jesus to the believers.

2. He confers the Holy Ghost-  Acts 8:14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost. 16 For until then he had not come upon any of them; they had only been immersed into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then, as Peter and John placed their hands on them, they received the Holy Ghost.

3. He cares for his congregations-  2 Corinthians 11:28 And besides these external matters, there is the daily pressure of my anxious concern for all the congregations. 

4. He (they) clarify and state what is Church doctrine-  "I also tell you this: you are Peter,” [which means ‘Rock,’] “and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Sheol will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”Matthew 16:18-19 and Acts 15:1 "But some men came down from Judah to Antioch and began teaching the brothers, “You can’t be saved unless you undergo circumcision in the manner prescribed by Moses.” 2 This brought them into no small measure of discord and dispute with Saul and Barnabas. So the congregation assigned Saul, Barnabas and some of themselves to go and put this question to the apostles and the elders up in Jerusalem.

5. I will add here: the apostles in the New Testament tended to operate across the offices of not only apostles but also prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.

Invitation.

Acts 2:37 On hearing this, they were stung in their hearts; and they said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter answered them, “Turn from sin, return to God, and each of you be immersed on the authority of Jesus the Messiah into forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost! 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for those far away — as many as The LORD our God may call!”

40 He pressed his case with many other arguments and kept pleading with them, “Save yourselves from this perverse generation!”

Closing blessing.

^{2 Peter 3:18 K}eep growing in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Deliverer, Jesus the Messiah. To him be the glory, both now and forever! Amen.